North Carolina's 189 Odonate species

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Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE: Number of records for 2024 = 0

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Vesper Bluet (Enallagma vesperum) by Mark Shields
Compare with: Orange Bluet   Golden Bluet  
Identification Tips: Move the cursor over the image, or tap the image if using a mobile device, to reveal ID Tips.
Note: these identification tips apply specifically to mature males; features may differ in immature males and in females.

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Map
Click on county for list of all its records for Vesper Bluet
Flight Charts
Distribution Widely scattered over the entire state, though no records yet for the upper third of the Piedmont. In theory, could occur in all 100 counties, but so far recorded only from one-third (33) of them.
Abundance Uncommon but rather widespread in the Sandhills region, and not local there. However, outside of this region it is rare to locally uncommon over the rest of the state, being quite rare in most of the Piedmont (with just 11 records there). The peak one-day count is a remarkable 50 individuals, but most other counts are under ten individuals. The many counties in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont where it has yet to be recorded attests to the difficulty of finding the species in the state.
Flight In the Coastal Plain and Piedmont, it occurs from mid-April to mid-October. In the mountains, the records fall from late May to mid-October. More data are needed to fill in gaps in the flight charts, though it appears that the starting and ending dates of the flight periods are rather well established.
Habitat Lakes or ponds, typically where forests are nearby, for perching (typically in shade). Waters with lily pads are often used.

See also Habitat Account for General Pond Shorelines
Behavior As the name implies, the species flies mainly in late afternoon into twilight. And, when seen before late afternoon, the individuals are usually perched in dark, shaded places.
Comments The unusual daily flight timing is perhaps responsible for the scarcity of records for this otherwise geographically widespread species, which ranges from the Gulf Coast north to southern Canada. Males have a bright yellow thorax and are not likely to be overlooked, especially in combination with the highly contrasting light blue end of the abdomen.
State Rank S3S4
State Status
Global Rank G5
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-18 15:39:52

Photo Gallery for Vesper Bluet   29 photos are shown. Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: Alicia Jackson

Comment: Moore; C, 2023-04-24,
Photo 2 by: Roger Shaw

Comment: Richmond; C, 2023-04-23, Indian Camp Lake
Photo 3 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2022-06-21, Hot Springs
Photo 4 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2022-06-06, Hot Springs pond
Photo 5 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Moore; C, 2021-10-17, Aberdeen Lake Park - ad.males
Photo 6 by: Max Ramey

Comment: Avery, 2021-08-15, Wildcat Lake - First county record
Photo 7 by: Matt Spangler

Comment: Chatham, 2021-07-13, Jordan Lake--White Oak Creek marsh
Photo 8 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2021-06-12, Hot Springs area - several males chasing and competing for perches on lily pads, 3 tandem pairs
Photo 9 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2021-06-12, Hot Springs area - several males chasing and competing for perches on lily pads, 3 tandem pairs
Photo 10 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2021-06-05, Hot Springs area
Photo 11 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Carteret, 2021-04-12, Ponds along Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest
Photo 12 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent

Comment: Wake, 2020-09-20, Yates Pond - adult male; on vegetation adjacent to small pool in shade; photo by L. Arent
Photo 13 by: Kyle Kittelberger

Comment: Moore; C, 2020-05-15, Southern Pines - female, attracted during night to moth sheet
Photo 14 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger

Comment: Moore; P, 2020-05-13
Photo 15 by: Rob Van Epps

Comment: Scotland, 2020-04-17, Most seen in beaver pond by Hoffman Rd.
Photo 16 by: Richard Stickney

Comment: Richmond; C, 2019-04-22, Broadacres Lake
Photo 17 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Cumberland, 2018-04-22, Lake Rim
Photo 18 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Carteret, 2018-04-18, Ponds along Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest - 8 males, 1 female, including a pair in tandem. First record for county.
Photo 19 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Brunswick, 2018-04-17, Boiling Spring Lakes - North Lake Park
Photo 20 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Madison, 2017-05-26, River Road, Hot Springs - Female, image taken at 10 am
Photo 21 by: Richard Stickney

Comment: Moore; C, 2016-07-31, Reservoir Park, near Southern Pines - male
Photo 22 by: John Petranka

Comment: Bladen, 2016-04-26, Jones Lake State Park; Jones Lake shoreline around the swimming area. Males. Photo.
Photo 23 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Wake, 2015-05-02, Lake Raleigh - adult male
Photo 24 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Granville, 2013-08-15, Lake Butner (Holt Lake) - male
Photo 25 by: Kaitlin Carnahan

Comment: Watauga, 2012-09-10
Photo 26 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Buncombe, 2012-08-26, Beaver Lake, Asheville - Immature Male
Photo 27 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Buncombe, 2011-09-07, Beaver Lake, Asheville - Male & Female
Photo 28 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Buncombe, 2011-09-07, Beaver Lake, Asheville - Male & Female
Photo 29 by: Ali Iyoob, Matt Daw, Dan Irizarry

Comment: Scotland, 2011-05-05, Scotland Lake in the Sandhills Game Land